Breakthrough: Missing person traced to Lakki internment centre

Justice Mulk asks AAGP to arrange a meeting of Tasif Ali with his family.

ISLAMABAD:

After repeated denial by the Military Intelligence regarding the enforced disappearance of a man, defence ministry has conceded before the apex court that Tasif Ali, husband of Abida Malik, is interned at the Internment Centre in Lakki Marwat.

Abida Malik had claimed before the Supreme Court that her husband went missing on November 23, 2011 from the Sadiqabad police area in Rawalpindi after an argument with Major Haider of the Military Intelligence (MI).

In response to her petition, the Assistant Attorney General on July 31, 2013 placed on record a statement on behalf of the MI Directorate that the ‘matter has been consulted’. He insisted that Tasif was neither apprehended nor held in custody and as per ground checks Major Haider was not involved in his (Tasif’s) disappearance.

Later, DIG Investigation Punjab police Abdul Qadir Qayyum, specially appointed to probe the case, confirmed that Haider’s real name was Major Muhammad Ali Ahsan but the army authorities refused to hand him over to the police and contended that police could not investigate a matter under Army Act 1952. The bench, however, turned down the request.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, hinted at the possibility of summoning an army commandant, on March 10, who did not allow his junior officer to join the investigation. The bench also gave army authorities a final opportunity to allow Major Ali Ahsan to record his statement before the court.

During Friday’s hearing Additional Attorney General for Pakistan Shah Khawar, submitted a letter from the defence ministry, stating that Tasif Ali was apprehended on March 5, 2014 and he has been interned at Internment Centre Lakki Marwat under Action in Aid of Civil Powers Regulations 2011.

The bench then directed the AAGP to arrange a meeting between Tasif and his relatives at a convenient place.

Counsel for the applicant, requested the bench to take up contempt petition against the incumbent defence secretary, former Army Chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and others for not complying with the court’s order about the recovery of a missing person who was allegedly abducted by an army officer.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2014.